Contributions
2,121 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsTo take the second question first, the commission will start its work in April. The noble Baroness, Lady Casey, has agreed to lead that review. The terms of reference will be…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsI absolutely agree that the CQC has been deficient in its performance. We can look back to 2023 for the roots of that, when a new single assessment framework for assessing…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsI agree that public confidence is absolutely crucial. That is why honesty is very important and why the Secretary of State accepted in full the recommendations of Dr Dash’s review…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsI assure my noble friend that the department has discussions with the CQC at fortnightly meetings. Those discussions are about performance, including clearing the backlog of…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsI certainly agree with the noble Baroness that the workforce is absolutely crucial, and I very much value the contribution that is made by those who work in care homes. Perhaps it…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsMy noble friend is quite right in her observations. Indeed, serious shortcomings are at play. As for the age of the assessments, to which she refers, that is of scant help to…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsMy Lords, the CQC has assured the department that Sir Julian Hartley, the new chief executive, did not use the exact words attributed to him in the interview with the Sunday Times…05 Feb 2025HANSARDCare Homes: Safety RatingsThe Secretary of State did indeed say that, and he was right to do so, in the spirit of transparency. The fortnightly meetings which I mentioned will be a constant assessment…05 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyWe are not closing women’s health hubs—it is important to put that on record. I have already said how successful the pilot has been; it therefore does not require a further…04 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyWe continue to learn from the best. I am committed to speaking with the leadership of ICBs about the importance of women’s health hubs, not least because it is about improving…04 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyLet me assure my noble friend and other noble Lords that there are no plans to cancel the women’s health strategy. I know my noble friend did not say that, but it is very…04 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyWomen over 70 can request an assessment if they feel it is appropriate for them. We act on and apply the scientific advice and evidence that we are given. On World Cancer Day,…04 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyI thank the noble Baroness for her welcome for the new approach in the planning guidance. As she commented, and as noble Lords opposite will know, just because something is in the…04 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyI would be glad to give information to the noble Baroness, whom I thank for reminding your Lordships’ House of the situation that we inherited—600,000 women on gynaecological…04 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen’s Health StrategyI agree with the noble Baroness. It is a disgrace that there is such a huge inequality in maternity care. Maternal mortality rates are some 2.3 times higher for black women and…04 Feb 2025HANSARDMental Health Treatment: Waiting TimesI agree with my noble friend’s suggestions. Of course it is a team that provides the mental health support that is necessary, but I am particularly pleased that we are working to…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMental Health Treatment: Waiting TimesI thank the noble Lord. Again, this is an area which has been explored in Committee on the Mental Health Bill and we are looking at the results of how that is working out, because…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMental Health Treatment: Waiting TimesI am glad for the understanding of the noble Lord. NHS England is encouraging the local use of digital tools, for example digitally enabled therapies, and it is an extremely…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMental Health Treatment: Waiting TimesI certainly do, and with the NHS being such a large employer, that is one of the areas that we will be attending to. The long-term workforce plan will provide its report around…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMental Health Treatment: Waiting TimesThe noble Lord makes a very important point. This is one of the many areas where long waiting lists and delays in people receiving the necessary service are creating additional…03 Feb 2025